Nobel Peace laureates, who have gathered here to celebrate the 25th anniversary of conferment of the coveted prize on Dalai Lama, today asked China to respect the rights of Tibetan and ethnic minorities, including Uyghur Muslims, who they said are leading a peaceful freedom struggle.
"The Chinese government should respect the rights of Tibetan and ethnic minorities, including Uyghur Muslims, who are leading a peaceful freedom struggle like Tibetan people," Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian human rights lawyer who won the Nobel in 2003 said.
She also hoped that the Chinese government would also free human rights activist Liu Xiabao, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence in the country.
"The day is not very far when we will be celebrating today's occasion in Tibet in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama," she added.
Jody Williams of US, who was awarded Nobel in 1997, said, "Non-violent struggle of Tibetans led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a model of peaceful conflict resolution."
On the cancellation of World Peace Summit due to South Africa's denial to permit the Tibetan spiritual leader, Williams said, "14 Nobel laureates pressurised South African Prime Minister to grant visa to the Dalai Lama so that World Nobel peace summit could be organised in South Africa, the house of Nelson Mandela. We protested so that a message could be sent to the nations who sell their serenity to China."
"Nobel Women's initiative sent two letters to the organisers, and we did media interviews expressing our dismay and decision to boycott the summit in Cape Town.
"In our letter, we underlined that His Holiness the Dalai Lama advocates the middle way approach and not the Chinese government's propaganda that he is seeking Tibet's separation from China," said Williams.
Addressing a huge gathering at The Tibetan Main temple in Mecleodganj, The Dalai Lama said, "I thank the two women Nobel laureates - Jody Williams of the US and Shirin Ebadi of Iran - for being trusted friends and their unwavering support for the just cause of Tibetans,"
The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for leading a non-violent struggle to restore freedom in Tibet in 1989.
